If Boozer isn't worth $80 mil, who is?

[Deleted member 365]

Again, if I ask for a list of players worth the mid level, are you going to list Kobe, Lebron, Wade, Dwight Howard, and Chris Bosh?

Yeah, any team would be happy to get any of them for the mid level but it isn't happening. And no team is getting any of them for $80 mil either. They are all max players. That is what they are worth.

So, again, what players are worth $80 mil if Boozer isn't?

No one here can answer your question.

The truth is, the Jazz are too financially strapped because of AK47's contract. If that didn't exist, guaranteed we would have resigned Boozer.

Needless to say, my expectations for next year aren't too high. I'll be surprised if we don't make the playoffs, since Jerry is a great coach and PHX and Denver are headed to the dumper. But I'm not really expecting much in terms of playoff wins.

There isn't another player out there worth $80 million without serious defects. Some people have mentioned Rondo... The dude shoots worse than Shaq from the line and has the shooting range of Ronnie Brewer. He's a hell of a player, but has glaring defects.

Boozer and Amare are fine players, both however, have glaring defects.

Jazz fans in general, believe that a player like Karl Malone (never misses games and plays both ends of the court) is a player worth $80 million. Sadly, that type of player doesn't exist in the NBA right now. And if he did, he'd be demanding the max from a big market. No way he'd consider Utah. Jazz fans need to realize that loyal hardworking players like Malone don't come around too often. Just look at Lebron. He's from Cleveland and they're struggling to hold onto him.

The truth of the matter is that most of us would probably rather can the next year or so rebuilding than stay at a mediocre level for the next few years risking $80 million on a player that has a history of injury problems.

Perhaps the Jazz did make a mistake in not resigning Boozer... And not unloading AK... Or resigning Boozer, biting the LT again, and letting AK walk this next year... Only time will tell!

 

[vj_74]

Agh..... I just had a long reply to this and erased it on accident because Im tired. So the long and short is I think we agree Borat that Boozer is worth that much money. were we disagree is the way the Jazz decided to go. Right now with a new CBA coming and all the major contract they have coming to a close at that time or the next there they are taking a chance that they well be able to keep Deron happy. We all complain that the Jazz FO never takes any chances. Well they are taking one heck of a chance here.

This is not taking a chance. Investing 80 mil on Booz would have been taking a chance. This is just putting money as the #1 priority and doing the safe thing. If Deron leaves, they will hunt for other FAs, like they did before Deron arrived. You are underestimating the Jazz FO's genius when it comes
to making sure their bottomline is secure. Championship is'nt even a priority here.
And they know that with a coach lke Sloan they will be able to squeze enough wins out of even a medicore team, to sustain the interest of the fanbase. So not much of a risk at all. Much like the 2003-2004 season, when the fans really enjoyed it.

 

[vj_74]

No one here can answer your question.

The truth is, the Jazz are too financially strapped because of AK47's contract. If that didn't exist, guaranteed we would have resigned Boozer.

Needless to say, my expectations for next year aren't too high. I'll be surprised if we don't make the playoffs, since Jerry is a great coach and PHX and Denver are headed to the dumper. But I'm not really expecting much in terms of playoff wins.

There isn't another player out there worth $80 million without serious defects. Some people have mentioned Rondo... The dude shoots worse than Shaq from the line and has the shooting range of Ronnie Brewer. He's a hell of a player, but has glaring defects.

Boozer and Amare are fine players, both however, have glaring defects.

Jazz fans in general, believe that a player like Karl Malone (never misses games and plays both ends of the court) is a player worth $80 million. Sadly, that type of player doesn't exist in the NBA right now. And if he did, he'd be demanding the max from a big market. No way he'd consider Utah. Jazz fans need to realize that loyal hardworking players like Malone don't come around too often. Just look at Lebron. He's from Cleveland and they're struggling to hold onto him.

The truth of the matter is that most of us would probably rather can the next year or so rebuilding than stay at a mediocre level for the next few years risking $80 million on a player that has a history of injury problems.

Perhaps the Jazz did make a mistake in not resigning Boozer... And not unloading AK... Or resigning Boozer, biting the LT again, and letting AK walk this next year... Only time will tell!

Good post.

Yeah the Jazz FO figure that they can get their usual first or second round playoff exit this season with a much less expensive roster, as long as Deron and Sloan are around. So why pay Booz? Championship can wait. We'll just watch other teams like Lakers or Heat or Celtics worry about championships for the next 2 years. In the meantime, we'll save us some dough, have a team which just about gets to the playoffs and we'll deal with Deron later.

 

[Borat]

Agh..... I just had a long reply to this and erased it on accident because Im tired. So the long and short is I think we agree Borat that Boozer is worth that much money. were we disagree is the way the Jazz decided to go. Right now with a new CBA coming and all the major contract they have coming to a close at that time or the next there they are taking a chance that they well be able to keep Deron happy. We all complain that the Jazz FO never takes any chances. Well they are taking one heck of a chance here.

No, Jazz decided NOT to take chance here. And a lot of it has to do with AK. For one, because we pay so much to him, we can't afford Booz now. And also, when we gave AK that big deal, that was a chance FO took and it blew up in their face. So, now, even when it seems reasonable to take a chance, they are afraid to do so. I just have hard time seeing getting a player of Booz quality now. We really got lucky with Boozer to begin with. Now we are probably going to give our mid level to Brewer and that's about it.

 

[SaltyDawg]

I just have hard time seeing getting a player of Booz quality now...

You aren't the only one. I'm still waiting for even 1 name of a player that we should/could/might/hope to get for $80 mil. And that is assuming the Jazz actually spend 100% of the $80 mil they saved today. If they don't spend all of it, the pickings get even slimmer.

 

[Borat]

That was just a what if. I already agreed that the Jazz could have done better. But at the same time I have a hard time faulting the FO for this completely. This was in a way Deron's choice and they gave him what he wanted.

Check this out: https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Aq5b8dPTaVic6I4Mwa_F3TG8vLYF?slug=ys-durantthunder

Of course Durant also would want a player option after 4th year, who wouldn't (even his agent seems to elude to that in the article)? And Durant is a player of even bigger statue than Deron was at the same stage of their careers. Yet, he had to settle for full 5 years if he wanted a MAX, and is ecstatic about it. OKC held all the cards and they capitalized on it. It's really not that hard when you completely control the situation.

 

[Borat]

You aren't the only one. I'm still waiting for even 1 name of a player that we should/could/might/hope to get for $80 mil. And that is assuming the Jazz actually spend 100% of the $80 mil they saved today. If they don't spend all of it, the pickings get even slimmer.

They aren't going to spend all of it. We are back to under the tax days, no CAP room, and early-mid teen picks. Millsap is the only hope to turn into star, and that hope is slim. At 6-7 I just don't know if he can be a 20 -10 for us Booz was. Let's hope he will be. There is no other hope.

 

[Borat]

Not only do they have 3 of the top 5 players in the league (if this is true) but unlike the Celtics, they are all still young. Not only that, but they are in one of the best cities in the whole NBA.

Miami will have no trouble getting players on the cheap.

Looks like it is true: https://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_...le_reports_lebron_plans_to_choose_miami_heat/

Oh well, it's not like we were going to compete for championship in the next 5 years. What sucks though is that competition is going to be absent from NBA now. How can anyone match up against these 3 guys plus Beasley? And soon they will be able to get even better veterans with midlevel and bi annual exceptions. This type of thing should not be allowed. This is not baseball. They have to make hard CAP in NBA like they have in NFL. With hard CAP, you can't keep 3 guys like that for more than a year or 2 - after that annual raises will push you over the CAP. In NBA, as long as you have 1 year under the CAP, their salaries can grow exponentially and you don't need to worry about CAP at all. In fact, you can even add more salary via numerous exceptions. I might have to support Lakers now for the first time ever if they make it to finals against Heat.

 

[vj_74]

I kind of feel a little bad for Salty now. All past years he was thinking that AK would be gone and Boozer was here to stay. But oops..it got reversed. You hope they atleast get something in return from the Bulls.

 

[SaltyDawg]

I kind of feel a little bad for Salty now. All past years he was thinking that AK would be gone and Boozer was here to stay. But oops..it got reversed. You hope they atleast get something in return from the Bulls.

I felt Boozer would finish his contract out, but I knew darn well the Jazz weren't signing him again after that. That's why I was so upset with the Jazz picking Hayward when I knew we needed big guys. If we kept Boozer, we didn't have such a dire need for big guys and picking Hayward would have been okay.

But yeah, I knew Boozer would not be traded for scrubs before his contract was up. It was a no brainer that the Jazz would let that contract expire and take the savings. Anyone who has been following the Jazz for years should have known that was coming. Either Boozer would agree to a deal way under market value, or he would expire and walk for nothing.

As for AK, he would have been traded several times over if Larry Miller didn't have a personal thing for him. There has to be a real chance he gets traded now though. New Jersey tanked all season trying to get the top pick and fell to 3rd. They also went all out to get cap space and no free agents wanted to go there. So they will without a doubt be looking at trades, and AK is certainly going to be on their radar. The Jazz may very well let him expire at this point, but a trade is not out of the question either.

 

[Borat]

I kind of feel a little bad for Salty now. All past years he was thinking that AK would be gone and Boozer was here to stay. But oops..it got reversed. You hope they atleast get something in return from the Bulls.

I supported FO most of the time, but lately there has been too many serious mistakes that are being exposed. The fact AK is here and Booz is gone, even though he gave us a chance to match is beyond anything I have imagined. Unfortunately the guys who are making most of these mistakes are Millers. LHM gave AK his contract and blocked trades on numerous occasions. Greg Miller failed to match Boozer. Greg Miller chose to purse Okur's extension instead of Booz last year and told Booz he is not longer in plans. I don't know why entire Jazz FO did not insist on keeping DWill for 5 years and agreed for only 3. These are huge blunders, that cost us players of caliber of Booz and Vince Carter, and possibly others. Definitely now it may cost us DWill too in 2 years. As much as I like KOC completely screwing Memphis on the Brewer deal, and getting good contributors like Korver, getting 9th overall pick in the draft in Hayward, it simply does not compare to missing out on guys like Booz, Carter, and possibly DWill. It's a tough situation right now. Not even sure what can be done now to significantly upgrade the roster. Perhaps trading AK47 to NJ, now that NJ has all that CAP space and nothing to show for it.

 

[Borat]

As for AK, he would have been traded several times over if Larry Miller didn't have a personal thing for him. There has to be a real chance he gets traded now though. New Jersey tanked all season trying to get the top pick and fell to 3rd. They also went all out to get cap space and no free agents wanted to go there. So they will without a doubt be looking at trades, and AK is certainly going to be on their radar. The Jazz may very well let him expire at this point, but a trade is not out of the question either.

I agree on all accounts. What can we get from NJ though? If they drafted Cousins, maybe they could give him to us in some kind of trade. As of now, Nets may not offer much. If they gave us next year's pick it would be good , but it's unlikely. Something to explore though.